Papers, 1818-1881

Crosby, William Chase, 1806-1880

Details

1 folder (68 items).

1 folio folder (2 items).

The papers of a farmer, businessman, and lawyer, of Atkinson and Bangor, Maine. Chiefly letters to Crosby in his capacity as chairman of the East Maine Kansas Aid Society; together with lists of subscribers and funds collected, reports of progress in recruiting emigrants to go to Kansas, diaries (1818-1880) relating to Crosby's life, and miscellaneous family correspondence. Correspondents include Calvin Cutter, T.W. Higginson, S.G. Howe, J.H. Perkins, John H. Rice, and George Talbot. There are also several letters from groups of Maine settlers in the west describing something of the situation and problems there. Also includes poster for recruitment of volunteers for the Eighteenth Maine Regiment Bangor, July 15, 1862, W.C. Crosby, recruiting officer. Included also is a letter from Daniel Sanborn dated Feb. 9, 1863 verifying the identity of Henry Putnam for payment for service aboard the Colorado (ship). Included also is a public notice dated October 20, 1856, Fredericton to claims of parties authorized to cut timber and signed by James A. Harding and Wm. McD. Dawson. Included also is a report of the U.S. Congressional Investigating Committee sent to the territory of Kansas.

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Described in: A reference list of manuscripts relating to the history of Maine, compiled by the Dept. of History and Government of the University of Maine and edited by Elizabeth Ring (1938-1941), entry 1777.

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William Chase Crosby was born in Atkinson, Maine in 1806. He was educated at the Gardiner Lyceum. He moved to Bangor in 1828 and was a businessman there until moving to Atkinson in 1835. He farmed there and was admitted to the Piscataquis County Bar in 1845. He soon moved to Bangor to practice law and was active in city government.

The East Maine Kansas Aid Society was formed for the purpose of organizing and financing groups of Free settlers in Kansas. William C. Crosby of Bangor was chairman of the executive committee of the society.